Defence Ministry rejects proposal for Tawang airport

ITANAGAR -- The Defence Ministry has rejected a
proposal to construct an airport at the Buddhist
town of Tawang as it is located close to the
Sino-India border, the state government said today.

"They have rejected the proposal but I have taken
up the issue with Defence Minister A K Antony and
he has assured me to relook into the demand,"
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu told reporters here.

At present Tawang, the home district of Khandu,
is linked by a daily helicopter service from Guwahati through Bhutan.

Meanwhile, the chief minister alleged that even
though the clearance for a greenfield airport at
Itanagar has been obtained, the civil aviation
ministry is delaying construction.

"I dont know why the NCP, which is a coalition
partner of the UPA government is taking a
step-motherly attitude towards the Congress-ruled Arunachal," he said.

The state govt has proposed airdropping of PDS
items, especially in border areas to mitigate the
hardships of the people, Khandu said adding that
eight unused advanced landing grounds in
different parts of the state have been handed
over to the Defence Ministry for their revival.